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STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY
ALBANY 38, NEW YORK
To: Faculty. and Students
This memorandum reports the action of the University Council in
{ defining the role of fraternities and sororities on our campus; I take
this means of reporting to you in order that information may be shared
as promptly and as widely as possible.
Last Friday, May seventeenth, I received the report of the committee
| appointed to consider the role of fraternities and sororities in the State
University at Albany. A policy based upon the finding and recommendations
| of this report was considered by the University Council on Tuesday, May
twenty-first. The statement of policy adopted by the Council is as
follows:
|
| “It is our conclugion that fraternities and sororities, properly
constituted and regulated, should have a role on the new campus,
1 Their function should be clearly understood to comprise more than
| that of mere social organizations. A congenial group of students,
| associated by bonds of mutual respect, similar interests and
f aspirations, and motivated by concern for each other and for the
University, can exert a beneficial influence upon the morale of
the whole student body. In so far as fraternal organizations
' help to develop qualities of mature judgment, leadership, in-
| dividual initiative and intellectual competence in their members,
| they promote the best interests of the University.
The fraternal groupe themselves can insure their continued existence
by their contribution to the ideals and purposes of the University.
Responsibility for maintaining acceptable standards of academic
accomplishment and social decorum of their members, individually
and collectively, will rest squarely upon the group, If they
accept the responsibility, they will have justified the con-
fidence placed in them by the University administration and
the University Council,"
This statement of policy was based on three major principles adopted
! by the Council
1, The University should recognize and support only those social,
academic, fraternal, and recreational organizations whose
objectives are consistent with the purposes of the University.
2, The University should establish regulitions governing the
existence of these organizations und procedures for supervising
their activities, to assure realization of the stated objectives.
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY
ALBANY 3, NEW YORK
3, The University should recognize and respect the right of each
student to extend or limit his personal involvement in the
organizational life of the University community.
The development of this policy on the new campus would center on
three principal steps:
1. All University student organizations, including fraternities
| and sororities, will be housed in University buildings, and
have food service provided by the University; presumably,
| these facilities will be provided on the new campus.
|
2, Any chartered student organization may apply annually for
group housing privileges in University residence facilities.
3. During the period May, 1963, through May, 1965, progress of
each fraternal group toward fulfilment of objectives consonant
with University purposes will determine its eligibility for
housing privileges on the new campus. °
In the formulation of this policy, the Council made clear its con«
viction that all student organizations are to meet the standards of the
University and shall be chartered by the University. Further, the Council
provided that any organization may retain its charter so long as it provides
convincing evidence of fulfilling its stated objectives, The University
will provide for an annual evaluation of these organizations, and will
develop policies affecting their activities. University supervision will
be assigned to maintain close working relationships with the groups so
designated,
The Council noted that many students feel the need for small-group
identification, and see fraternities and sororities as meeting this
need. At present about a third of the student body belongs to these
groups. Fraternal groups can serve this purpose. but other social,
academic, community, religious groups can also meet these needs and
achieve worthwhile objectives in a University community of organizations.
The Council under section three hundred fifty-six of the education law,
and in accordance with rules established by the State University Trustees,
has responsibility both for the review of all plans for the “appraisal or
improvement of student activities and housing" and for making "regulations
governing the conduct and behavior of students", and prescribing for and
exercising "supervision over student housing and safety."
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY
ALBANY 3, NEW YORK
The implementation of this policy will be a responsibility of the
Dean of Students, and will, of course, require extensive planning and
; the development of explicit standards and procedures. Much of this de-
| tailed work will not be possible to complete until next fall, especially
f since full opportunity for the participation of students in the develop-
! ment of the new procedures will be important for their success.
— In the period of transition continued assistance will be required
i by the organizations in meeting their financial responsibilities and in
the disposition of physical properties. This will, of course, be provided.
All elements of our university have much to gain from an effective
and orderly implementation of the Council's policy; we count on their
full cooperation,
Sincerely,
alt 0G
Evan R. Collins
President
ERC:bjs
May 22, 1963
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